Three shot group question

[JMayo]

how about 4 three shot groups !
Lol ! I'm just clowning.
In spite of this grouping test i failed to win much fake wood this year.

Imo In Turner setting a 3 shot group repeated will tell you all you need to know.

 

[Dgd6mm]

As you increase the number of shots in a group the chances of conditions or your own abilities affecting the group size increase. I know that several very good rimfire shooters use 3 shot groups to tune and evaluate ammo ...lots of groups.

I think it is a matter of what you are personally comfortable and experienced with.

Gerry

I agree. Some shooters can't get it done in 3.
I use 3 and I'm confident in my ability.

 

[Bill Norris]

Normally when looking at powder charge I will try 3 shot group first. If it looks good I will shoot one more 3 shot group. But with bullet seating depth and tuner settings 2 shots will tell me what I need to know. If two ain't touching no need to shoot that third one.

 

[3Sigma]

One three shot group won't tell you if it is a good load, but it can tell you it is bad. As many have said, 2 shots can do the same.

For hunting, I like multiple 3 shot groups for drawing conclusions. Ideally on different days and conditions.

I haven't completed yet, but I would develop from 3 to 5 to 8 for statistical accuracy.

 

[M-61]

Basically with again shortage I have stuck with my 30BR’s. Not searching for a better load but searching for a better marksman. (ME)
Used this situation for practice, wind, mirage etc.
Wow, if Biden has his way, I’ll have some amount of practice under my belt!

 

[gme]

the number of shots used to evaluate a rifle/load performance varies depending on the intended use of the rifle, the extremes would be a highpower/F class gun, where 5 shots dont tell you much, you need 20 or 30 to give you an accurate representation of how it will perform in competition, at the other extreme, a hunting rifle where cold bore performance is paramount and barrel profiles tend to be lighter, where three shot groups with sufficient cool down periods would be fine,

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I tune everything with 3 shot groups. Hunting rifles, elr, BR, F-class, exc. If you pay attention to the whole tuning session and not just the individual groups, theres a lot more data than it may seem. In my opinion a well built rifle will tell you what you need in 3.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Shoot 2 shot groups. They wont get smaller with 3 or 5

 

[6.5 forever]

I have used three shot groups to test loads just to save scarce components.
I am of the opinion that a three shot group is of no value in use for bragging rights or as
proof of a rifle or loads accuracy.
Any group competition that I have heard about alaways uses five shot groups.
I am certain everyone here has shot a three shot group that is way better that any five they have shot.
For me any brag about a three is ignored as not valid.

I use 3 shot groups to verify 100 yard POI.

Groups of 5-10 shots are used at 1000 yards for testing.

 

[BoydAllen]

I see this a lot with guys trying to tune their barrel tuners. Since they know they have a lot of settings to test, they lower the number of shots per setting. As a consequence of that, they reduce the validity of any particular node.

All a good 3 shot group ever did for me was justify another 2 or more shots.

A bad 3 shot group is already without hope, but a good 3 shot group is just justification for further testing.

If a 4th or 5th shot ruins the group, then the inspiring 3 shot group is invalidated by default.

If the 4th and 5th shot are inside the good 3 shot group, then the 3 shot group is validated by default.

So, the take away is that 3 shot groups are only useful in eliminating the hopeless.

Do you own and regularly use a set of wind flags?

 

[603Country]

I use 3 shot groups for load workup. If it shows promise, I’ll shoot 3 or 4 or 5 more. If the 3 shot is ugly, on we go to the next load. I have my own 100 yard range and a good bench and bags, and if I think I have finally found the magic load, I’ll shoot single cold bore rounds for a few days. If that proves out, I’m good.

I’m not a long range guy, but just a pig/deer/coyote hunter. Rarely shoot past 400 yards.

 

[mrmarklin]

Three shot groups are useful for sighting in, especially for hunting rifles. It gives an idea of where your shots will go under ideal conditions.
Once my rifle is sighted in for hunting, I use a one shot group from a cold barrel before I go into the field. If it shoots to my desired point of impact, I'm ready to go hunting. In hunting, only the first shot from a cold barrel is of any use at all IMHO. If it's a miss, your second or third shots will likely be at running game! But if not, close enough,
Obviously for competitors, particularly in Benchrest categories, three shots are not enough. But it's a lot of discipline and practice to get five shots to be as good as three................

 

[22BRGUY]

3 SHOT GROUPS ARE LIKE THE COARSE ADJUSMENT KNOB ON A MICROSCOPE.
THE FINE ADJUSTMENT KNOB GOES FROM 4 TO 10 SHOT GROUPS.

MY BEST GROUPS WERE ALL ONE SHOT

 

[JEFFPPC]

I guess it depends on how good you are at evaluating the group. For me, in a barrel that shoots good, two shot groups will get me close, but three shot groups are easier to read. At 100 yards wit a with a good barrel, anything close to tune is going to put two shots on top of each other or close to it. Sort of hard to cipher much from that. The third shot usually confirms what is going on.

Repeatability then a couple with more shots.

 

[Emmett Dibble]

the number of shots used to evaluate a rifle/load performance varies depending on the intended use of the rifle, the extremes would be a highpower/F class gun, where 5 shots dont tell you much, you need 20 or 30 to give you an accurate representation of how it will perform in competition, at the other extreme, a hunting rifle where cold bore performance is paramount and barrel profiles tend to be lighter, where three shot groups with sufficient cool down periods would be fine,

LOL, I shoot silhouette… I get the best of both world in Lever action and HP… cold rifle to smoking hot in a couple minutes… That is why I shoot a load “in competition conditions and time/round count“ to evaluate it before I load a bunch for several matches worth of ammo. I have also culled new rifles that the barrels threw cold bore fliers. Surprises me how many people don’t test equipment and blame performance on themselves or chance.

 

[Bill Norris]

3 SHOT GROUPS ARE LIKE THE COARSE ADJUSMENT KNOB ON A MICROSCOPE.
THE FINE ADJUSTMENT KNOB GOES FROM 4 TO 10 SHOT GROUPS.

MY BEST GROUPS WERE ALL ONE SHOT

But, lots of times the 10 shot group will test the shooter. Especially if the shooter knows his load is consistently shooting tight 3 and 5 shot groups. It does get demanding to shoot a 1/4 in. 10 shot group @ 100 yds. even with a accurate rifle.

 

[Mauser06]

I'm an anomaly....my best group I ever fired was a 5 shot group.


I've always used 2 or 3 to work on load development and tuning. If 2 don't shoot, 3 or 5 isn't going to make it any better.


My newest barrel, I'm not even going to experiment and try to "do better" as long as it shoots at distance. The load shot under 1/4 at 100 with 3 and 5. Chrono data is good. As long as it doesn't do anything goofy at distance, I'll save components and shoot it. I'm a steel shooter so my needs aren't the same as a group or score shooter.

 

[Old Navy]

I use 3 shot groups for load workup. If it shows promise, I’ll shoot 3 or 4 or 5 more. If the 3 shot is ugly, on we go to the next load. I have my own 100 yard range and a good bench and bags, and if I think I have finally found the magic load, I’ll shoot single cold bore rounds for a few days. If that proves out, I’m good.

I’m not a long range guy, but just a pig/deer/coyote hunter. Rarely shoot past 400 yards.

I remember Bob Milek writing just that many years ago.

 

[Bc'z]

I can't hit $#!+ with the 1st shot, sending any more rounds down range is pointless.

 

[Old Navy]

Shoot 2 shot groups. They wont get smaller with 3 or 5

I have shot a lot of groups where the first two were touching. Never thought about quitting while I was ahead. Thanks for the tip.